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<br />- 23 - <br /> <br /> <br />OO~'!~' <br />U! l.Ju '_ <br /> <br />BASIN CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br />Introducti on <br /> <br />Over 1,580,000 acres are irrigated within the study area. Of this area <br />938,000 acres are located in the South Platte River Basin, 105,000 acres in the <br />North Platte River Basin and the remaining 537,000 acres located in the <br />Republican River Basin. Generally the area in both the North and South Platte <br />River Basins are irrigated predominantly by surface water while the area in the <br />Republican River Basin is irrigated predominantly by ground water. <br /> <br />The 23 ditch systems studied supply water to over 264,000 acres. This area <br />represents about 25 percent of all the land irrigated with surface water <br />supplies and provides a good sample that represents the problems and needs <br />found in all the systems located downstream of Denver in the South Platte River <br />Basin. The sample does not represent high elevation systems, such as those <br />located in the North Platte River Basin or lands irrigated exclusively with <br />ground water. <br /> <br />Delivery System Needs and Potentials <br /> <br />About 40 percent of the irrigation systems managers reported that a new <br />diversion structure is needed or major repairs are needed to their existing <br />diversion structure. This study showed that about 20 percent of the needed <br />work can be economically justified. <br /> <br />All of the system managers reported that some canal lining would improve <br />their system. Water control structures should be replaced when the lining is <br />installed. The study showed that about 24 percent of this work can be <br />justified. <br /> <br />Generally the lining of high seepage reaches of canals will pay when the <br />system is very water short. As this is a very high construction cost item, it <br />can be justified in severe areas only. Reservoir improvements were identified <br />in 26 percent of the systems studied. Justification of these improvements <br />using water saving alone is difficult. The study did not address dam safety <br />issues. <br /> <br />Onfarm Needs and Potentials <br /> <br />Onfarm ditch lining or pipelines were recognized as needed in all but one <br />system of those studied. Approximately 39 percent of the lining that is needed <br />can be justified based upon water losses. Other benefits such as labor saved <br />or convenience to the irrigator were not addressed in this study. <br /> <br />As with ditch lining, onfarm water control structures were identified as <br />needed in all but one system. About 48 percent of the structures identified as <br />needing work can be economically justified. <br />